[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 30 (Friday, March 15, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1972-S1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO HOOSIER ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate a group 
of young Indiana students who have shown great educative achievement. I 
would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the winners of 
the 2001-2002 Eighth Grade Youth Essay Contest which I sponsored in 
association with the Indiana Farm Bureau and Bank One of Indiana. These 
students have displayed strong writing abilities and have proven 
themselves to be outstanding young Hoosier scholars. I submit their 
names for the Congressional Record because they demonstrate the 
capabilities of today's students and are fine representatives of our 
Nation.
  This year, Hoosier students wrote on the theme, ``World-Wide Meals 
from Hoosier Farms.'' I submit for the Record the winning essays of 
Crista Dismore of Scott County and Joseph Jochim of Gibson County. As 
State winners of the Youth Essay Contest, these two outstanding 
students are being recognized on Friday, March 15, 2002 during a visit 
to our Nation's Capitol.
  The essays follow:

                 World-Wide Meals From Hoosier Farmers

                   (By Christa Dismore, Scott County)

       Indiana farms can contribute significantly to the 
     production of food for people around the world. Agriculture 
     in Indiana is a large industry with 65,000 farms containing 
     15.5 million acres of farmland. Hoosier farmers will use new 
     technologies to increase their crop yield, produce healthier 
     food, and sell their crops to more specialized markets.
       Farming is becoming more like science. In Indiana, corn 
     production is king. Through improvements in technology such 
     as new equipment, safer pest control, and hybrid seed the 
     yield per acre has increased from 40 to 150 bushels per acre. 
     Also, the farmers will be able to raise livestock that is 
     less fattening for our bodies because of a new science, 
     genomics, which allows researchers to make changes in plants 
     and animals. This technology will be important in keeping 
     Indiana a leader in food production since Indiana farmers 
     supply our dinner tables with bacon, eggs, steaks, and milk. 
     Indiana farms will become more specialized in that they will 
     only raise one type of animal instead of a variety of 
     animals. An example is Rose Acre Farms in southern Indiana 
     which raises chickens to produce eggs.
       Indian agriculture affects my daily life because my 
     grandfather grows a large garden and my father sells farming 
     equipment. I eat tomatoes, corn, green beans, potatoes, beets 
     and broccoli from the garden. My dad tells me abut tillers, 
     loaders, backhoes, and trailers that farmers use. In Austin, 
     Indiana, Morgan Foods is one of the nation's largest 
     condensed soup manufacturers and many of my friends' families 
     work there.
       Hoosier farmers will do their part in providing the world 
     with food. Indiana has three of the most well-known research 
     universities, a prominent agricultural school, and 
     many science-based companies that will help Indiana to 
     become a leader in meeting the world-wide demands on the 
     food supply.
                                  ____


                  World-Wide Meals From Hoosier Farms

                   (By Joseph Jochim, Gibson County)

       As I sit next to my Dad in his combine, I watch as it 
     husks, shells, and cleans the bright yellow kernels of corn. 
     I'm amazed at the large amount of corn, soybeans, and wheat 
     he can grow and harvest to help feed our world. He pays close 
     attention to the markets world-wide as well as international 
     trade agreements between countries that affect our prices.
       Indiana, as well as the rest of the U.S. grain belt states, 
     supply two-fifths of the world's supply of corn. Corn is 
     Indiana's leading crop. Much of this corn is fed to Indiana's 
     livestock like hogs, cattle, and poultry. This meat is 
     exported to countries like Japan, Canada, China, and Mexico. 
     Since October 1, 2001, we had corn sales to South Korea, 
     Russia, Israel, Uganda/Angola, and Montenegro. Locally, 
     Azteca Milling processes white corn purchased from area 
     farmers into white flour. This is sold world-wide for 
     products like tortillas and tamale shells.
       Soybeans are another of Indiana's valuable farm products. 
     So far this year, sales of our soybeans have increased to 
     Indonesia, Canada, China and Mexico. We also export soybeans 
     to Japan, Algeria, South Korea, Peru, and China.
       With increasing technology, mechanization, productivity, 
     and soil conservation, Indiana's farmers are increasing their 
     yields. Improvements and discoveries in genetics and plant 
     breeding are helping us to produce more nutritious foods that 
     require less pesticides and herbicides. For example, in 
     Indiana we commonly use soybeans resistant to the herbicide 
     Roundup. Therefore, less herbicide, field cultivating, and 
     fuel is used.
       In addition, Indiana helps supply whole meal food 
     assistance to the needy in areas like Southeast Asia.
       I'm proud that Indiana and my dad help produce whole meals 
     like grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, and meats to 
     feed the world's growing population.
                                  ____


                    2001-2002 District Essay Winners

       District 1: Eric Jensen (Starke County) and Anne LaFree 
     (St. Joseph County).
       District 2: Zach Heimach (DeKalb County) and Melinda Hohler 
     (DeKalb County).
       District 3: Kevin Lange (Benton County) and Brittany 
     Scherer (Benton County).
       District 4: Aaron Poole (Jay County) and Heather Meitzler 
     (Huntington County).
       District 5: Jason Allen (Vermillion County) and Marina 
     Nicholson (Morgan County).
       District 6: Aaron Nees (Marion County) and Hillary Foltz 
     (Delaware County).
       District 7: Matt Steves (Greene County) and Christina 
     Riggle (Daviess County).
       District 8: Greg Rennekamp (Rush County) and Lauren Haas 
     (Franklin County).
       District 9: Joseph Jochim (Gibson County) and Lynn Fletcher 
     (Warrick County).
       District 10: Jonathan Raichel (Scott County) and Christa 
     Dismore (Scott County).
                                  ____


                     2001-2002 County Essay Winners

       Bartholomew: Sarah Michael and Sam McAleese, St. 
     Bartholomew Catholic School.
       Benton: Kevin Lange and Brittany Scherer, Benton Central 
     Jr. HS.
       Cass: Heath Karnafel and Kayla Somers, Columbia Middle 
     School.
       Clay: MacKenzie Watson, Clay City Jr. HS.
       Daviess: Christina Riggle, Washington Jr. HS.
       Delaware: Zachary Rabenstein and Hillary Foltz, Heritage 
     Hall Christian School.
       DeKalb: William Zachary Heimach and Melinda Hohler, DeKalb 
     Middle School.
       Franklin: Andrew Sparks, Laurel School, and Lauren Haas, 
     St. Michael School.
       Gibson: Joseph Jochim, Owensville Community School.

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       Greene: Matt Steves, Linton-Stockton Jr. HS, and Laura 
     Bartlow, Calvary Christian School.
       Hamilton: Brett Finkelmeier and Claire Harwood, Carmel Jr. 
     HS.
       Hancock: Curtis Merlau, Greenfield Middle School.
       Hendricks: Chris Beard and Jana Emmelman, Kingsway 
     Christian School.
       Henry: Brian Butler and Amy Wenning, Tri Jr. HS.
       Howard: Eric Talbert and Rachele Carter, Western Jr. HS.
       Huntington: Heather Meitzler, Huntington Catholic School.
       Jackson: Ryan Hirtzel and Laura Kilpatrick, Seymour Middle 
     School.
       Jasper: Jason Simmons and Amy Streitmatter, Rensselaer 
     Middle School.
       Jay: Aaron Poole and Shannon Rines, East Jay Middle School.
       Knox: Martha Vance, North Knox Jr. HS.
       Lake: Matt Trocha, DeMotte Christian School, and Stephanie 
     Strnatka, St. Michael School.
       Madison: Aron Brown and Alison Denny, Southside Middle 
     School.
       Marion: Aaron Nees and Tracy Horan, St. Jude School.
       Monroe: Brandon Petesch, Batchelor Middle School.
       Morgan: Matt Gegg and Marina Nicholson, Mooresville 
     Christian Academy.
       Posey: Kelley Clem, North Posey Jr. HS.
       Rush: Greg Rennekamp, Benjamin Rush Middle School.
       St. Joseph: Michael Chartier, St. Matthew Cathedral School, 
     and Anne LaFree, Jackson Middle School.
       Scott: Jonathan Raichel and Christa Dismore, Austin Middle 
     School.
       Spencer: Matt Kaufman and Breanna Faulkenberg, Heritage 
     Hills Middle School.
       Starke: Eric Jensen and Andrea Bastin, Oregon-Davis Jr. HS.
       Vanderburgh: Chris Mutschler, St. James School.
       Vermillion: Jason Allen and Elisha Marie Chancey, North 
     Vermillion Jr. HS.
       Wabash: Cody White and Erica Grossman, Northfield Jr. HS.
       Warrick: Nathan Rice and Lynn Fletcher, Boonville Jr. HS.
       Washington: Casey Nesmith and Casey Parker, West Washington 
     Jr. HS.
       Wayne: Timothy Mosley and Kaitlin Vaughn, Centerville Jr. 
     HS.
       Wells: Nathan Meyer and Janelle Meyer, Bethlehem Lutheran 
     School.

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